Does anyone know where I can jump 12V power that is always hot even without the ignition on at the rear of the truck.

I am adding a bed light in the sidewall of the bed and dont want to run a line all the way to the battery.

Thanks

 

If you have an RV 7 plug, yes. It is the lower left tabs. The 6 pin plug MIGHT have it but I'm not sure. The 4 pin does not.

 

It appears that the ignition needs to be on for power to the 7 pin.

That kinda defeats the purpose for me. Thanks though.

 

Not for the RV. I just went out and tried it. It works.
Here is a diagram.
http://www.etrailer.com/faq-wiring.aspx

 

I will check it again when I get home.

Any other options

 

Here is the actual Ford diagram

99-03 MY range


2004-08 MY range





Both diagrams show the 7 pin trailer tow adapter battery charge terminal is only hot in run or start/run positions.

 

Thanks SSCULLY

Thats what I thought. I use an air compressor that I jump off of the 7 pin and it only works with the ignition on. I was going to double check it to be sure.

Any other ideas?

 

The only way to have the trailer tow battery charge in the 7 pin be hot all the time is to pull the relay, and jumper the normally open contacts.

 

Hmmm, I might need to look into it. Mine is hot all the time. Do you guys have the heavier tow packages? That part of my truck is still totally stock except for one thing. Could having a brake controller possibly change that?

 

the brake controller is only connected to the brake terminal on the 7 pin trailer tow adapter, and it is hot at all times ( to the brake controller and then direct to the 7 pin trailer tow adapter ).

Not too sure what you were calling lower left, the battery terminal is upper right hand corner on the truck side. Lower left is ground and lower right is brake. ( URL above shows the same thing. )

 

Ok yeah, it was the brake controller's hot wire. I couldn't figure out why none of the poles were matching up until I realized that Ford has the plug on my truck turned 90 degrees clockwise. I feel dumb now for not realizing that sooner.

Well OP, looks like you might be running a wire or a switch to the accessory position.

 

Run a new wire to an unused position in your fuse block as shown in these pics & their captions:

 

Speaking for myself, I would just as soon run a dedicated wire directly off the battery in the engine compartment, fuse it in-line, and run it along the frame to wherever you want your power in back. Sometimes brute force is better than elegant design.

 

x2 KISS Keep It Stupid Simple, it also makes upgrading your wire gauge much easier if you ever need an upgrade.

 

The brutal method is no more effective than the elegant one, and you STILL have the option to upgrade the wire whenever you want. What could be simpler than using an existing fuse holder, right next to all the others? If it blows, you don't have to go looking all over the truck to find where you put it.